Friday, October 31, 2014

Vernon Viper Alumni Fraser Announces Retirement:

Former Vernon Vipers forward Curtis Fraser has announced his retirement. Fraser played last season with EC Villacher SV (VSV) an ice hockey team from Villach, Austria. VSV pulled the option on Fraser's contract at the end of last season. Fraser announced his retirement after the teams playoffs last spring. No official press release by VSV but it was on Fraser's twitter account & Wikipedia.

Fraser spent the 2012-13 season in Austria played with the Zagreb Bears before signing with EC Villacher SV (VSV) last year. In 54 games with VSV Fraser picked up (21-goals-13-assists-34-points).

After playing four years at the University of Alaska Fairbanks Fraser spent six seasons between the East Coast Hockey League (Las Vegas & Alaska) & American Hockey League (Chicago, San Antonio & Lake Erie) before playing hockey in Italy and Austria. Fraser captured the ECHL Kelly Cup Championship with the Alaska Aces in 2011.

Fraser played parts of one season with the Vipers (2002-03) after the Victoria Salsa sent Fraser to Vernon on January 10th 2003 for Marc Fulton & future considerations. In 25 regular season games with the Vipers Fraser collected (19-goals-20-assists-39-points) and lead the Vipers in scoring that season with 105 points. Due to his birthday and scholarship Fraser couldnt play past his 21st birthday wich ment he was only able to play in the Vipers first two playoff rounds (eight playoff games) before sitting out the remainder of the Vipers playoff run. The Vipers went onto the BCHL league finals and then lost in the Doyle Cup to Camrose without Fraser in the lineup.

1990 & 1991 Vernon Lakers Inducted Into Okanagan Sports Hall Of Fame

The 1969-70 & 1971-72 Vernon Essos were inducted into the Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame in November 2014

1999 Vernon Vipers Inducted Into BC Hockey Hall Of Fame

The 1999 Vernon Vipers were inducted into the BC Hockey Hall of Fame In July 2016

On December 2nd 2017 the Vernon Vipers honoured the 1956 Vernon Canadians and former Vernon Esso's legend Wayne Dye. The 1956 Vernon Canadians Allen Cup banner along side Wayne Dye's #8 Legends banner were raised to the rafters at Kal Tire Place

Kal Tire Place-Home to the Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame

The Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame was established in 1982 through the vision of Vernon resident and sports enthusiast, Nick Alexis. With the support of Vernon City Council, Alexis and a dedicated group of volunteers created a series of outdoor exhibits celebrating the region’s dynamic sporting history in Vernon’s Cenotaph Park. That same year, the new organization unveiled its first round of inductees to the Hall of Fame. Several years later, in 2001, the Hall of Fame moved its exhibits into the newly constructed Vernon Multiplex now known as Kal Tire Place.

About Me

I first created this blog in November of 2008. This coming season will be my ninth season doing this blog. I was born and raised in Vernon, BC and have been going to Junior Hockey games in Vernon since I was a young child. I purchased my first set of season tickets in 1990
I have had season tickets for the last 26 years, Since 1990 I have missed 42 home games.
In September of 2009 I missed my first home game since 2002-03 wich my streak of 236 straight Vipers home games came to an end. Ive missed just three Vipers home games since the 1998-1999 season.
I worked with the Vipers back in 2003-04 as colour comentator helping out with a few games over the internet. In 2011 I helped deisgn, create and put together the Vipers new website for the 2011-12 season. I ran and updated the Vipers website for five seasons, keeping all staff bios and pictures updated, adding new game photos, doing a game preview on game days, as well as adding any Vipers news, scores or BCHL news through out the season.
Over the years I have travelled to Victoria, Dauphin & Camrose to watch the Vipers in the RBC Cup. I was also at the 1990 Centennial Cup & 2014 RBC Cup in Vernon.